Joseph Rowntree centenary lecture while chancellor, 8 July 2004

"Our ambition to eradicate child poverty is the most tangible expression of the bigger moral and economic purpose I have described - to eliminate poverty so that we can ensure that every child has the chance to realise their potential ... The great and unacceptable concentration of poverty amongst households with young children is the greatest indictment of our country in this generation and the greatest challenge of all"

Labour conference speech, spring 2008

"Let us be clear where the stakes are highest. Child poverty is the scar that demeans Britain. When we allow just one life to be degraded or derailed by early poverty, it represents a cost that can never be fully counted. What difference could that child have made? What song will not be written, what flourishing business will not be founded, what classroom will miss out on a teacher who can awaken aspiration?"

Speaking on social mobility to the Commons, June 2008

"Although we have already lifted hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty with new tax credits, more people in work and better public services, the latest figures show we have not made enough progress ... We will not deny or explain away the figures, we will take them as a spur to action, a call to conscience"

Labour conference speech, autumn 2008

"Because child poverty demeans Britain, we have committed our party to tackle and to end it. The measures we have taken this year alone will help lift 250,000 children out of poverty. The economic times are tough, of course that makes things harder, but we are in this for the long haul - the complete elimination of child poverty by 2020. And so today I announce my intention to introduce groundbreaking legislation to enshrine in law Labour's pledge to end child poverty"